January 13, 2017

Before the Fall


Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
Thriller
2016 Hachette Audio
Read by Robert Petkoff
Finished on July 18, 2016
Rating: 3/5 (So-so)

Publisher's Blurb:

On a foggy summer night, eleven people--ten privileged, one down-on-his-luck painter--depart Martha's Vineyard headed for New York. Sixteen minutes later, the unthinkable happens: the passengers disappear into the ocean. The only survivors are Scott Burroughs--the painter--and a four-year-old boy, who is now the last remaining member of a wealthy and powerful media mogul's family.

With chapters weaving between the aftermath of the tragedy and the backstories of the passengers and crew members--including a Wall Street titan and his wife, a Texan-born party boy just in from London, a young woman questioning her path in life, and a career pilot--the mystery surrounding the crash heightens. As the passengers' intrigues unravel, odd coincidences point to a conspiracy: Was it merely dumb chance that so many influential people perished? Or was something far more sinister at work? Events soon threaten to spiral out of control in an escalating storm of media outrage and accusations--all while the reader draws closer and closer to uncovering the truth.

The fragile relationship between Scott and the young boy glows at the heart of this novel, raising questions of fate, human nature, and the inextricable ties that bind us together.

I listened to the audio edition of this mystery/thriller, which is told in alternating points-of-view. The reader was quite good, but the big reveal was anticlimactic and an overall disappointment after investing almost an entire month to listen.

10 comments:

  1. You're not the first one to say the ending was a let down. Too bad.

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    1. Kathy, it probably wouldn't have been so disappointing if I hadn't dawdled with the audio. As I recall, I started it right before our summer vacation to Oregon, so there were a few weeks when I didn't listen at all.

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  2. Hmmm...that's a shame. I think I have this in my Audible library, but have not listened to it yet. Have heard mixed reviews. We shall see how it goes. I think the author lives in Austin, maybe.

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    1. Kay, you may enjoy it. I was surprised that the details of the plane crash didn't disturb me. I even listen to some of it while flying to Oregon!!

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  3. I think I liked this one a bit more than you:)

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    1. Diane, I remember reading your review. Oh, well. They can't all be winners, right?

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  4. There was so much hype about this book wasn't there? I wouldn't mind reading it but I definitely would have to read it. I don't think I could keep up with an audio version!

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    1. Iliana, yes! Even my boss was talking about how B&N was really pushing the book as a big hit. Maybe there was too much hype.

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  5. Just so-so? I think I'll pass on this one, then.

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    1. Deb, I've read some really good thrillers recently and, unfortunately, this one missed the mark.

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